Introduction to
Emergency Social Services
• Presented by:
City of Chilliwack
Emergency Social Services Team
Ministry of
Human Resources
Overview of the ESS Program
What is Emergency Social Services?
• Emergency Social Services
(ESS) is BC’s province-wide,
community based, emergency
response program
• ESS are those services required
to preserve the well-being of
people affected by an
emergency or disaster
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 2
Overview of the ESS Program
What does ESS Do?
The ESS Program is an integral part of emergency management
in BC by:
•
•
•
•
•
Helping people to remain independent
and self-sufficient
Helping people to meet their basic
needs during a disaster
Reuniting families separated by
disaster
Providing people with accurate and upto-date information about the situation
at hand
Helping people to re-establish
themselves as quickly as possible after
a disaster
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 3
Overview of the ESS Program
What services are provided?
ESS provides primary services such as:
• food
• lodging
• clothing
• family reunification
(registration & inquiry)
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 4
Overview of the ESS Program
What services are provided?
ESS may also provide specialized services such as:
• emotional support
• first aid
• child care
• pet care
• public information
• radio communications
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 5
Overview of the ESS Program
Who provides ESS?
• ESS volunteers and staff
– over 5,000 local volunteers and staff across BC
– ESS Support Organizations
– Ministry of Human Resources staff
•
Chilliwack has an ESS team. But
we need more volunteers!
• Our local ESS leader (Director) is Kelley Newlove
• And the Deputy ESS Director is (to be determined)
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 6
Overview of the ESS Program
Who receives ESS ?
• Citizens of British Columbia who have been displaced
from their residence by a disaster or emergency
• Travellers stranded as a result of a disaster
• Response workers on assignment
during a disaster or emergency
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 7
Overview of the ESS Program
When is ESS provided?
• ESS may be provided for incidents ranging from a single
family house fire to calamities involving mass evacuation
• Examples of events in BC involving ESS include:
•
floods
•
blizzards
•
urban fires
•
tornadoes
•
earthquakes
•
landslides and avalanches
•
oil spills
•
wildland urban interface fires
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 8
Overview of the ESS Program
How long is ESS provided for ?
• ESS is typically available for 72 hours immediately
following the start of an event
• During these first 72 hours, evacuees should immediately
plan their next steps by contacting:
– insurance agents (if relevant)
– family and friends
– local non-profit agencies
• ESS may be extended, in exceptional circumstances, on a
case-by-case basis
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 9
Overview of the ESS Program
How is ESS provided?
• ESS teams assist evacuees at Reception Centres
• ESS teams may also provide:
– outreach services for shut-ins
– Group Lodging (shelter and food) to evacuees during a
major event
– on-site services to response workers and others
• Personal Disaster Assistance volunteers provide on-site
services for small scale incidents (1-2 residences)
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 10
Overview of the ESS Program
What do ESS teams do to prepare?
• Identify facilities suitable for use as Reception Centres
• Recruit and train volunteers
• Establish linkages with key local emergency responders
and any disaster related non-government organizations
• Reach agreements with local businesses and services
organizations
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 11
Conclusion
The success of ESS depends on the ongoing commitment
of volunteers and other key stakeholders, and on the
support of local, regional and provincial governments.
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 12
City of Chilliwack – Emergency Social Services Program
Slide 13